Suffocation-preventing blanket

ABSTRACT

A suffocation-preventing blanket, including a main body to receive at least a portion of a body of a baby thereupon, and a plurality of gloves disposed on at least a portion of the main body to store hands of the baby therein.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present general inventive concept relates generally to a blanket, and particularly, to a suffocation-preventing blanket.

2. Description of the Related Art

Accidental suffocation is a leading cause of injury-related death for babies. Despite attempts by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institutes of Health to warn parents against using baby blankets and other items of soft bedding to cover their babies, many parents continue the practice.

Unfortunately, the baby blankets and the other items of soft bedding can easily ride up and cover a baby's face, resulting in suffocation.

Also, most babies become anxious in response to being removed from a baby blanket. However, most parents are forced to remove the baby from the blanket while changing a diaper.

Therefore, there is a need for a blanket that prevents the baby from suffocating and allows the diaper to be changed without fully unwrapping the baby.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a suffocation-preventing blanket.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a suffocation-preventing blanket, including a main body to receive at least a portion of a body of a baby thereupon, and a plurality of gloves disposed on at least a portion of the main body to store hands of the baby therein.

The main body may cover at least a portion of the body of the baby in response to moving a first side and a second side on an opposing end of the main body with respect to the first side toward the baby.

A first glove of the plurality of gloves may be disposed substantially near the first side and a third side of the main body.

A second glove of the plurality of gloves may be disposed substantially near the second side and the third side of the main body.

The suffocation-preventing blanket may further include a calming unit disposed on at least a portion of the main body to record or emit a sound of a parent to calm the baby in response to the baby hearing the sound of the parent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a suffocation-preventing blanket in an opened position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of the suffocation-preventing blanket as disposed on a baby in a closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of the suffocation-preventing blanket as disposed on the baby in the closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

-   -   Suffocation-Preventing Blanket 100     -   Main Body 110     -   First Side 110 a     -   Second Side 110 b     -   Third Side 110 c     -   Fourth Side 110 d     -   Fifth Side 110 e     -   Sixth Side 110 f     -   Gloves 120     -   First Fastener 130     -   Loop Portion 131     -   Hook Portions 132     -   Second Fastener 140     -   First Row 141     -   Second Row 142     -   Calming Unit 150     -   Audio Unit 151     -   Button 152     -   Storage Unit 153     -   Power Source 154

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a suffocation-preventing blanket 100 in an opened position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of the suffocation-preventing blanket 100 as disposed on a baby 10 in a closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of the suffocation-preventing blanket 100 as disposed on the baby 10 in the closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

The suffocation-preventing blanket 100 may be constructed from at least one of cloth, metal, plastic, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The suffocation-preventing blanket 100 may include a main body 110, a plurality of gloves 120, a first fastener 130, a second fastener 140, and a calming unit 150, but is not limited thereto.

The main body 110 may include a first side 110 a, a second side 110 b, a third side 110 c, a fourth side 110 d, a fifth side 110 e, and a sixth side 110 f, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1, the plurality of gloves 120 is illustrated to be a mitten. However, the plurality of gloves 120 may be a glove, a fingerless glove, a plastic handle to slide a hand inside that wraps between a pinky and any pointer finger, etc., but is not limited thereto. Additionally, each of the plurality of gloves 120 may be flexible to expand to accommodate any size hand of a baby 10.

The plurality of gloves 120 may be disposed on at least a portion of the sixth side 110 f of the main body 110. More specifically, at least a first of the plurality of gloves 120 may be disposed on at least a portion of the sixth side 110 f substantially near the first side 110 a and the second side 110 b. Also, at least a second of the plurality of gloves 120 may be disposed on at least a portion of the sixth side 110 f substantially near the first side 110 a and the fourth side 110 d.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 2B, the main body 110 may have any predetermined size to cover at least a portion of a body of the baby 10, such that the main body 110 may be constructed to accommodate different sizes of the baby 10. Specifically, a parent, a family member, and/or a caregiver may place the baby 10 on at least a portion of the sixth side 110 f of the main body 110, such that at least a portion of a head of the baby 10 extends a distance away from the first side 110 a of the main body 110. In other words, the main body 110 may receive at least a portion of the body of the baby 10 thereupon. For ease of description, the parent, the family member, and/or the caregiver will hereinafter be referred to as the parent, but is not limited thereto. The parent may insert at least a portion of a first hand of the baby 10 into at least a portion of the first of the plurality of gloves 120. Subsequently, the parent may insert at least a portion of a second hand of the baby 10 into at least a portion of the second of the plurality of gloves 120. In other words, each of the plurality of gloves may store the first hand and/or the second hand of the baby therein.

Furthermore, the parent may grip at least a portion of the second side 110 b and at least a portion of the fourth side 110 d to move each side in a first direction or a second direction from a first position (i.e. opened) to a second position (i.e. closed), such that each side may move at least partially toward a center of the sixth side 110 f of the main body 110, such that the baby 10 may be at least partially covered. Alternatively, the parent may grip at least a portion of the second side 110 b and at least a portion of the fourth side 110 d to move each side in the second direction or the first direction from the second position to the first position, such that each side may move at least partially away from the center of the sixth side 110 f of the main body 110, such that the baby 10 may be at least partially uncovered.

The first fastener 130 may be at least one of a zipper, a two-way zipper, a buckle, a button, a snap, a clasp, and hooks and loops, but is not limited thereto.

The first fastener 130 may include a loop portion 131 and a plurality of hook portions 132, but is not limited thereto.

The first fastener 130 may be disposed on at least a portion of the sixth side 110 f substantially near the third side 110 c of the main body 110, such that a length of the first fastener 130 may extend at least a portion of a length of the third side 110 c. Each of the plurality of hook portions 132 may be removably connected to at least a portion of the loop portion 131 in response to the parent moving the second side 110 b and the fourth side 110 d at least partially toward the center of the sixth side 110 f, such that the parent may push and/or pull against at least a portion of the fifth side 110 e of the main body 110 corresponding to a portion of the first fastener 130 as disposed on the sixth side 110 f to secure the first fastener 130, such that the second side 110 b and the fourth side 110 d may resist being opened.

The second fastener 140 may be at least one of a zipper, a two-way zipper, a buckle, a button, a snap, a clasp, and hooks and loops, but is not limited thereto.

The second fastener 140 may include a first row 141 and a second row 142, but is not limited thereto.

The first row 141 may be disposed on at least a portion of the fourth side 110 d of the main body 110, such that a length of the first row 141 may extend at least a portion of a length of the fourth side 110 d. Also, the second row 142 may be disposed on at least a portion of the second side 110 b of the main body 110, such that a length of the second row 142 may extend at least a portion of a length of the second side 110 b.

The second fastener 140 may include a first slider and a second slider, but is not limited thereto. As such, the first row 141 and the second row 142 may be removably connected in response to moving the first slider or the second slider in a first zip direction or a second zip direction from a first lateral position (i.e. opened) to a second lateral position (i.e. closed), such that the first row 141 and the second row 142 may be at least partially interlocked. Alternatively, the first slider or the second slider may move in the second zip direction or the first zip direction from the second lateral position to the first lateral position, such that the first row 141 and the second row 142 may be at least partially unlocked. In other words, the parent may move the first slider and/or the second slider to open and/or close the second fastener 140.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, therefore, the baby 10 may be at least partially covered and contained within the main body 110. Moreover, at least a portion of the main body 110 may be prevented from moving to cover the head of the baby in response to each hand of the baby 10 being inserted into the plurality of gloves 120. As such, the baby 10 may be prevented from suffocating while being contained within at least a portion of the main body 110.

Furthermore, while the second fastener 140 is locked, the first fastener 130 may be opened to change a diaper of the baby 10 without moving the second side 110 b and the fourth side 110 d of the main body 110. As such, the baby 10 may remain covered by the main body 110 during the changing of the diaper. As such, the baby 10 may be prevented from crying in response to being exposed.

The calming unit 150 may include an audio unit 151, a button 152, a storage unit 153, and a power source 154, but is not limited thereto.

The audio unit 151 may include a voice recognition unit, a sound outputting unit, and any other type of device that aurally outputs data, but is not limited thereto.

The storage unit 153 may include a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, a flash drive, a database connected to the Internet, cloud-based storage, Internet-based storage, or any other type of storage unit.

The power source 154 may include a solar cell and a battery, such as lithium-ion, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, alkaline, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The calming unit 150 may be disposed on at least a portion of the main body 110. The parent may depress the button 152 for a first predetermined duration of time and/or a first predetermined number of times to record a sound of the parent. Moreover, the audio unit 151 may activate in response to the button 152 being depressed, such that the sound of the parent is recorded. The audio unit 151 may transmit the sound of the parent to the storage unit 153 to store the sound of the parent. The parent may repeat the process to change the sound of the parent stored on the storage unit 153.

Therefore, the parent may depress the button 152 for a second predetermined duration of time and/or a second predetermined number of times to playback the sound of the parent. As such, the sound of the parent may be retrieved from the storage unit 153 to be emitted from the audio unit 151. The sound of the parent may be played to calm the baby 10, such that the baby 10 may relax while contained within the main body 110.

The power source 154 may provide power to at least one of the audio unit 151, the button 152, and the storage unit 153, but is not limited thereto.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A suffocation-preventing blanket, comprising: a main body to receive at least a portion of a body of a baby thereupon; and a plurality of gloves disposed on at least a portion of the main body to store hands of the baby therein, each of the plurality of gloves comprising: a plastic handle to slide a hand inside that wraps between a pinky and a pointer finger.
 2. The suffocation-preventing blanket of claim 1, wherein the main body is configured to cover at least a portion of the body of the baby in response to moving a first side and a second side on an opposing end of the main body with respect to the first side toward the baby.
 3. The suffocation-preventing blanket of claim 2, wherein a first glove of the plurality of gloves is disposed near the first side and a third side of the main body.
 4. The suffocation-preventing blanket of claim 3, wherein a second glove of the plurality of gloves is disposed near the second side and the third side of the main body.
 5. The suffocation-preventing blanket of claim 1, further comprising: a calming unit disposed on at least a portion of the main body to record or emit a sound of a parent to calm the baby in response to the baby hearing the sound of the parent.
 6. A suffocation-preventing blanket, comprising: a main body to receive on a first side at least a portion of a body of a baby thereupon; a plurality of fingerless gloves disposed on at least a portion of the main body to store hands of the baby therein; a hooks and loops fastener disposed on a second side opposite with respect to the first side to removably connect a third side and a fourth side of the main body to a center of the second side; and a zipper, comprising: a first row disposed on at least a portion of the third side, and a second row disposed on at least a portion of the fourth side to removably connect to the first row, such that the hooks and loops fastener is openable while the second row is connected to the first row. 